Hemorrhoid treatment device

ABSTRACT

A hemorrhoid message device has a shaft with a first end section, a middle section and a narrow section. The middle section is positioned between the first end section and the narrow section. The narrow section has a concavity extending around the diameter of the shaft. The narrow section has a first end separated from a second end by between one-half inch and three-quarters inch diameters of the first end and the second end of the narrow section are equal. The shaft has a length between one and a half inches and four inches. The middle section can be of straight cylindrical, concave or convex shape.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/675,436 filed on Sep. 29, 2000 and entitled,“PROSTATE MASSAGE APPARATUS”, presently pending.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to apparatus for the treatment ofhemorrhoids. More particularly, the present invention relates to devicesfor massaging internal and external hemorrhoids by the self-movement ofthe device. The present invention also relates to devices that are heldwithin the anal canal and are driven by the pressure of the analsphincter and by peristaltic activity of the surface of the anal canalfor the purpose of massaging the internal and external hemorrhoids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A hemorrhoid is a protrusion of the internal intestinal mucosainto the lumen of the rectum and, at times, outside the body. Ifuntreated, a hemorrhoid can be painful and can cause irritation,discomfort and a soiling of clothing (typically underwear). Further, theuntreated hemorrhoid can become thrombose, ulcerate and be prone toinfection.

[0006] One current technique for treating external hemorrhoids involvesthe topical application of emollients, prescription and otherover-the-counter medications. However, it is generally well acceptedwithin the medical community that the key to proper hemorrhoidal care isto keep the area clean and to minimize inflammation. Emollients andcreams tend to trap fecal film minutia on the surface of the skin. Thisfecal film and minutia can serve as an additional source of irritationand inflammation. Additionally, sitz baths are the currently preferredtechnique for treating uncomplicated hemorrhoids.

[0007] Sitz bath treatment involves soaking the affected area in a warmwater bath three to four times per day. However, frequent bathing isimpractical and inefficient for the average patient. Further, cold wateris now recognized as being more effective in treatment of hemorrhoidsthan warm water. The obvious discomfort of a cold water bath is asignificant limitation on the efficacy of the sitz bath treatmenttechnique.

[0008] Anal-treatment dilators in the form of a hollow, relativelythin-walled, rotationally symmetrical cone are known. The cone isdimensioned to dilate the anus. Ointment can then be applied through thedilator to the hemorrhoidal tissues. However, it is often difficult toproperly apply the ointment to the hemorrhoidal tissues since theointment is often wiped off the instrument as it is introduced into theouter region of the anus.

[0009] In contrast to the ointment-type hemorrhoidal treatment devices,there are several anal treatment dilators and mechanical devices thatare intended to facilitate the treatment of hemorrhoidal tissues. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,642, issued on Jul. 11, 1942, describes astationary device having a shoulder at the bottom thereof whichrestricts free movement of the device within the rectum. The device hasa diameter of greater than one inch. This large diameter will serve toinduce the evacuative response of the anorectal area. The diameter ofthis device narrows by less than 1.5 inches from the base flange towardthe top of the device. This large area of the narrowing tapered surfacereceives a downward thrust force from the lateral pressure of theanorectal area.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,914 describes a device which massages theanal canal manually. U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,542, issued on Apr. 22, 1986 toZ. R. Boyd, describes a stationary device with free self-movement whichis restricted by a circumferential shoulder of the head and a largeflange associated with the shaft. This device is intended to stay in astationary position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,950, issued to the presentinventor, utilizes the anal sphincter contraction to massage theprostate by reciprocal linear movement of the apparatus. The device isheld by a rod set against the perineum region. U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,193,to the present inventor, utilizes the entire anal canal's static anddynamic lateral pressure, along with the peristaltic activity of theanal canal, in order to massage the internal and external hemorrhoids.With the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,193, none of the prior artpatents mobilizes the device in order to message the internal andexternal hemorrhoids substantially by the activity of the pecten withinthe anal canal.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide ahemorrhoidal treatment apparatus that induces peristaltic movementwithin the anal canal.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide ahemorrhoidal treatment device which effectively massages the internaland external hemorrhoids without aggravating the condition.

[0013] It is still a further object of the present invention to providea hemorrhoidal treatment device which utilizes the peristaltic activitywithin the anal canal for back-and-forth movement.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide ahemorrhoidal treatment device which relies on the peristaltic movementof the anal canal to consume a large amount of energy and increase freshblood circulation to the anorectal area for improving hemorrhoidalconditions.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide a smalldiameter device having smooth curved surfaces so as to avoid aggravatingthe hemorrhoidal condition.

[0016] It is still a further object of the present invention to providea hemorrhoidal treatment device which is easy to use, inexpensive, andeasy to manufacture.

[0017] These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from a reading of the attached specification andappended claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention is a device for gently and naturallymassaging the internal and external hemorrhoids without using externalforces applied to the device. The device is movably held by the pectenwithin the anal canal so as to slightly move backward and forward, byitself, by way of the peristaltic activity of the pecten wall. Thepecten is a narrow, concave portion of the anal canal. These slightmovements of the device massage the internal and external hemorrhoidswithout aggravating the condition. The peristaltic movement within thepecten consumes a large amount of energy so as to increase fresh bloodcirculation to the anorectal area to improve the hemorrhoidalconditions.

[0019] The present invention comprises a shaft having a first endsection, a middle section, and a narrow section. The first end sectionhas a curved surface formed at the end thereof. This first end sectionhas a cylindrical or narrowly tapering surface extending toward themiddle section. The middle section is formed from a cylindrical shaftportion. The cylindrical shaft portion can have either a concave or aconvex surface with an almost equal diameter at the ends thereof. Thiswill avoid the influence of the lateral pressure of the internalhemorrhoidal area. The average diameter of the middle section will bebetween ⅜ inch to ⅝ inch. This small diameter will serve to optimize theactivity of the pecten and to decrease the influence of the lateralpressure of the internal hemorrhoidal area. The middle section has alength of no more than one inch. The narrow section is located on an endof the middle section opposite the first end section. This narrowsection has an area between a first end thereof and a second endthereof. This narrow section is provided so that the pecten can grip thedevice. The narrow section has a length of no more than one inch. Thediameter of the device at the first end of the narrow section and at thesecond end of the narrow section is equal. The distance between the endof the first end section and the second end of the narrow section isbetween one and a half inches and four inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thehemorrhoidal treatment device of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of thehemorrhoidal treatment device of the present invention as located withinthe pecten in the anal canal.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a alternative embodiment ofthe hemorrhoidal treatment device of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another alternativeembodiment of the hemorrhoidal treatment device of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024]FIG. 1 shows a hemorrhoid treatment device 10 in accordance withthe preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 isutilized so as to work with the pecten within the anal canal. Thispecten is a narrow concave portion of the anal canal.

[0025] The device 10 has a shaft with a first end section 11, a middlesection 20 and a narrow section 17. The first end section 11 extendsbetween the end 7 of the device and the end 15 of the middle section 20(designated with broken line “h”). The middle section 20 is locatedbetween first end 15 and opposite end 16. The narrow section 17 islocated between the opposite end 16 of the middle section 20 and anopposite end 18 of the narrow section 17 (indicated by broken line “g”).

[0026] The first end section 11 has a curved surface 12 at end 7. Thecurved surface 12 extends outwardly and downwardly from the end 7 in adirection toward the middle section 20. This curved surface 12terminates in area 13 of the first end section 11. A cylindrical surface14 extends from area 13 to the end 16 of the narrow section 17. Thenarrow section 17 is illustrated as extending in a concave mannerbetween the ends 16 and 18 thereof. The device 10 can be terminated atthe end 18 of the narrow section 17, if desired. However, in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, a handle shaft 21 issecured to the end 18 of the narrow section 17. Handle 22 is attached tothe end of the handle shaft 21 opposite the middle section 17. Thelength from the end 7 of the first section 11 to the end 18 of thenarrow section 17 is between one and a half inches and four inches.

[0027] Similarly, the distance between the broken line (h) at the end 15of the middle section 20 and the broken line (g) at the end 18 of thenarrow section 17 is between one inch and one and a half inches,inclusive. This distance represents an entire length of the human analsphincter. The human sphincter includes the internal hemorrhoid area,the pecten, and the subcutaneous external sphincter. The subcutaneousexternal sphincter includes the external hemorrhoids. The length betweenthe end 15 of the middle section 20 and the end 16 of the narrow section17 is between one-half inch to three-quarters inch. This distancerepresents the length of the internal hemorrhoid area. The lengthbetween the end 16 and the end 18 of the narrow section 17 is betweenone-half inch and three-quarters inch inclusive. This distancerepresents the length of the pecten. The diameters of the end 15 of themiddle section 20 and the end 16 and the middle section 20, and the end18 of the narrow section 17, are almost equal. Typically, thesediameters will be between three-eighths inch and three-quarters inch. Inthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optimum diameterswould be between three-eighths inch to one-half inch.

[0028] The area between the area 13 of the first end section 11 and theopposite end 15 of the first end section 11 can be eliminated orreplaced with various shapes of surfaces. Since this first end section11 is outside the territory of the sphincter, the lateral pressure ofthe sphincter will not influence the first end section 11.

[0029] The cylindrical surface of the middle section 20 can include aslightly narrowing or widening tapered surface. If such a taperedsurface is used, then the angle of taper should be less than eightdegrees as extending from the end 15 of the middle section 20 to the end16 of the narrow section 17. When the middle section 20 has a wideningtapered surface from the end 15 of the middle section to the end 16 ofthe narrow section 17, the diameter of the narrowest cross section ofthe narrow section 17 is no more than the diameter of a cross section ofthe end 15 of the middle section 20.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the hemorrhoid treatmentdevice 10 and components of the anal canal. The main components of theanal canal are the internal hemorrhoid area 80, the pecten 81 and thesubcutaneous external sphincter 83. This subcutaneous external sphincter83 contains the external hemorrhoids. The upper portion 85 of theinternal hemorrhoid area 80 shows the ampulla of the rectum. When thedevice 10 is in use, it is inserted into the anal canal as the narrowsection 17 of the device 10 fits to match the contours of the pecten 81.The device 10 is constructed so that the length of the narrow section 17of the device 10 is between one-half inch to three-quarters inch inorder to fit the typical length of the pecten 81.

[0031] The pecten 81 spans more than the middle third of the anal canal.The pecten 81 will have a length of about one-half inch tothree-quarters inch. The pecten 81 is characterized by the formation ofa thick hardened ring of fibrous tissue with resulting stenosis andcontracture to form a narrow passage. The pecten 81 serves as a dividerfor the anal canal. When a small object is located in the upper sectionof the pecten, the pecten 81 retrieves the object within the rectum 85.When the object is at the lower section of the pecten 81, the pecten 81serves to push the object out of the anus.

[0032] When the pecten 81 accommodates to the narrow section 17 of thedevice 10, the peristalistic motion of the pecten alone cannot clear outthe device 10 from the pecten 81. This is because the ends 16 and 18 ofthe narrow section 17 serves as a bulwark. In other words, these ends 16and 18 of the narrow section 17 send conflicting messages to the pecten81 on whether to retrieve or evacuate the device from the anal canal. Asthe peristalistic motion within the pecten 81 continues to try to removethe device 10 from the pecten 81, the device 10 slightly moves backwardand forward for a short distance within the pecten 81. Additionally,since the diameter of the cylindrical surface of the shaft throughoutthe middle section 20 is constant, there will be no thrust force causedby the lateral pressure of the internal hemorrhoidal area to the middlesection 20 and will not interfere the gripping ability of the pecten 81.

[0033] In those circumstances when the diameter of the middle section 20is less than one-half inch and in those circumstances when the middlesection 20 has a small tapered surface, the thrust force caused by thelateral pressure of the internal hemorrhoidal area has a nominal effecton the device in comparison to the gripping power of the pecten 81. Theideal diameter of the end 16 and the end 18 of the narrow section 17 isless than three-quarters of the length of the pecten 81.

[0034] When the surface between the points 30 and 31 adjacent to thebottom 18 of the narrow section 17 has an average radius of less thanthree-eighths inch, this surface will perform a strong massage effect tothe external hemorrhoidal area. The peristalistic motion of the pectenwill consume a large amount of energy. This causes increased bloodcirculation and will cause an increased temperature of the hemorrhoidalarea. As a result, it can serve to cure the hemorrhoidal condition.

[0035]FIG. 3 shows first alternative embodiment of the hemorrhoidaltreatment device 700 of the present invention. The device 700 has anfirst end section 711, a middle section 720 and a narrow section 717.The end section 711 has a curved top surface 712 extending from end 707to an area 713. A narrowing tapered surface 714 extends from the area713 to the end 715 of the middle section 720, indicated by broken line(h) in the illustration of FIG. 3.

[0036] In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3, the middle section 720is illustrated as extending in a convex manner between the end 715 ofthe middle section 720 and the end 716 of the narrow section 717. Thenarrow section 717 is illustrated as extending in a concave mannerbetween the end 716 and the end 718. End 718 of the narrow section 717is illustrated with broken line (g). The device 700 can be terminated atthe end 718 of the narrow section 717. However, as illustrated in FIG.3, a handle shaft 721 can be attached to the end 718 of the narrowsection 717. The length from the area 713 of the first end section 711to the end 718 of the narrow section 717 is between one inch and fourinches. The distance between the end 715 of the middle section 720 andthe end 718 of the narrow section 717 is between one inch and one and ahalf inches inclusive. The length between the end 715 of the middlesection 720 and the end 716 of the narrow section 717 is betweenone-half inch and three-quarters inch, inclusive. The length between theend 716 and the end 718 of the narrow section 717 is between one-halfinch and three-quarters inch, inclusive.

[0037] The diametric difference between the end 715 of the middlesection 720 and the end 716 of the narrow section 717 is ±20%. As aresult, the convex surface of the middle section 720 will not yieldsignificant thrust forces caused by the lateral pressure of the internalhemorrhoid area and will not interrupt or interfere with the grippingability of the pecten. The diameters of a cross section of the end 716and the end 718 of the narrow section 717 are almost equal. Thisdiameter can be between three-eighths inch to three-quarters inches,inclusive.

[0038] In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the end section711 can be replaced by various shapes of surfaces extending from thearea 713 to the end 715 of the middle section 720.

[0039]FIG. 4 shows a second alternative embodiment of the hemorrhoidtreatment device 900 of the present invention. The device 900 has an endsection 911, a middle section 920 and a narrow section 917. The endsection 911 has a curved surface 912 extending from area 913 to end 907of the device 900. A cylindrical surface 914 will extend from the area913 to the end 915 of the middle section 920 at the area designated witha broken line (h) in FIG. 4. The middle section 920 is illustrated asextending in a concave manner between the end 915 of the middle section920 and the end 916 of the narrow section 917. The narrow section 917also extends in a concave manner between the end 916 and the end 918thereof. The device 900 can be terminated at the bottom 918 of thenarrow section 917, as illustrated by broken line (g) in FIG. 4. In thepreferred form of this alternative embodiment, a handle shaft 921 issecured to the end 918 of the narrow section 917 of the device 900. Thelength between the area 913 to the end 918 of the narrow section 917 isbetween one inch and four inches, inclusive.

[0040] The length between the end 915 of the middle section 920 and theend 918 of the narrow section 917 is between one inch and one-halfinches, inclusive. The length between the end 915 of the middle section920 and the end 916 of the narrow section 917 is between one-half inchand three-quarters inch, inclusive. The length between the end 916 andthe end 918 of the narrow section 917 is between one-half inch andthree-quarters inch, inclusive. The diametric difference between the end915 of the middle section 920 and the end 916 of the narrow section 917is ±20%. As a result, the concave surface of the shaft at this middlesection 920 does not yield significant thrust force effects caused bythe lateral pressure of the internal hemorrhoidal area and does notinterfere with or interrupt the gripping ability of the pecten. Thediameters of the end 916 and the end 918 of the narrow section 917, at across sections thereof, is of almost equal. This diameter can be betweenthree-eighths inch to three-quarters inch, inclusive. The diameter ofthe narrowest portion of the narrow section 917 is no more than thediameter of the end 915 of the middle section 920.

[0041] In the present invention, it should be noted that the upperportion 911 can be replaced by various shapes of surfaces that extendfrom the area 913 to the end 915 of the middle section 920.

[0042] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details ofthe illustrated construction can be made within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention.The present invention should only be limited by the following claims andtheir legal equivalents.

I claim:
 1. A hemorrhoid massage device comprising: a shaft having afirst end section and a middle section and a narrow section, said firstend section having a curved surface at an end opposite said middlesection, said middle section positioned between said first end sectionand said narrow section, said narrow section having a concavityextending around at least a portion of a diameter of said shaft, saidnarrow section having a first end and a second end at opposite ends ofsaid concavity, said first end and said second end being separated bybetween one-half inch and three-quarters inch inclusive, said middlesection having a length of between one-half inch and three-quarters inchinclusive, said shaft having a length between said end of said first endsection and said second end of said narrow section of between one and ahalf inches and four inches inclusive, an end of said middle sectionadjacent said first end section having a diameter that is ±20% of adiameter of said first end of said narrow section, said diameter of saidfirst end of said narrow section being approximately equal to a diameterof said second end of said narrow section.
 2. The device of claim 1,said middle section being cylindrical extending from said first endsection to said first end of said narrow section.
 3. The device of claim1, said middle section having a concave surface extending from saidfirst end section to said first end of said narrow section.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, said middle section having a convex surface extendingfrom said first end section to said first end of said narrow section. 5.The device of claim 1, said first end of said narrow section having adiameter of between ⅜ inch and ⅝ inch inclusive.
 6. The device of claim1, said second end of said narrow section having a curved surface withan average radius of no more than three-eighths inch.
 7. The device ofclaim 1, said shaft having a handle extending outwardly from said secondend of said narrow section.
 8. A hemorrhoid massage device comprising: ashaft having a first end section and a middle section and a narrowsection, said first end section having a curved surface extendingoutwardly from an end thereof opposite said middle section, said shafthaving said narrow section positioned at an end of said middle sectionopposite said first end section, said narrow section having a concavityextending around at least a portion of a diameter of said shaft, saidnarrow section having a first end and a second end at opposite ends ofsaid concavity, said middle section having a straight cylindricalsurface extending between said first end of said narrow section and saidfirst end section, said cylindrical surface having a length of betweenone-half inch and three-quarters inch inclusive, said first end and saidsecond end of said narrow section being separated by between one-halfinch and three-quarters inch inclusive, said shaft having a lengthbetween said end of said first end section and said second end of saidnarrow section thereof of between one and a half inches and four inchesinclusive, said second end of said narrow section having a diameterapproximately equal to a diameter of said first end of said narrowsection.
 9. The device of claim 8, said first end of said narrow sectionhaving a diameter of between thee-eighths inch and one-half inchinclusive.
 10. A hemorrhoid massage device comprising: a shaft having afirst end section and a middle section and a narrow section, said firstend section having a curved surface extending outwardly from an endthereof opposite said middle section, said narrow section positioned atan end of said middle section opposite said first end section, saidnarrow section having a concavity extending around at least a portion ofa diameter of said shaft, said narrow section having a first end and asecond end at opposite ends of said concavity, said first end sectionhaving a narrowing tapered surface extending from said curved surface tosaid middle section, said middle section having a convex surface betweensaid first end section and said first end of said narrow section, saidmiddle section having a length of between one-half inch andthree-quarters inch inclusive, said narrow section having a length ofbetween one-half inch and three-quarters inch inclusive between saidfirst end and said second end thereof, said shaft having a length ofbetween one inch and four inches inclusive between said end of saidfirst end section and said second end of said narrow section, a diameterof said middle section adjacent said first end section being ±20% of adiameter of said first end of said narrow section, said diameter of saidfirst end of said narrow section being approximately equal to a diameterof said second end of said narrow section.
 11. the device of claim 10,said shaft having a diameter between ⅜ inch and ⅝ inch inclusive at saidfirst end of said narrow section.
 12. A hemorrhoid massage devicecomprising: a shaft having a first end section and a middle section anda narrow section, said first end section having a curved surfaceextending outwardly from an end thereof, said shaft having said narrowsection positioned at an end of said middle section opposite said firstend section, said narrow section having a concavity extending around atleast a portion of a diameter of said shaft, said narrow section havinga first end and a second end at opposite ends of said concavity, saidmiddle section having a concave surface extending between said first endsection and said first end of said narrow section, said narrow sectionhaving a length between said first end and said second end thereof ofbetween one-half inch and three-quarters inch inclusive, said middlesection having a length of between one-half inch and three-quarters inchinclusive, said shaft having a length between said end of said first endsection and said second end of said narrow section of between one and ahalf inches and four inches, said middle section having a diameteradjacent said first end section that is ±20% of a diameter of said firstend of said narrow section, said diameter of said first end of saidnarrow section being approximately equal to a diameter of said secondend of said narrow section.
 13. The device of claim 12, said shafthaving a diameter at said first end of said narrow section diameter ofbetween three-eighths inch and five-eighths inch inclusive.
 14. Thedevice of claim 12, said first end section having a straight cylindricalshape extending from said curved surface to said middle section.
 15. Thedevice of claim 12, said first end section having a narrowing taperedsurface extending from said curved surface to said middle section. 16.The device of claim 12, said shaft having a handle extending outwardlyof said second end of said narrow section.